50 – 60 visitors turned up to the private view of 'Emissaries From The Past' at HMS so the place was alive. From Felixstowe to Hinkley different generations congregated to view Dee Shiel's first solo show.
We had an idea… we tend to attract families and whilst the kids might be drawn to the work for a while, their concentration dims when adults start talking. So we thought we might set up a table for youngters with crayons and paper etc. We could set little projects related to the show. Why didn't we think of that before?
Our decision to return to the UK was made for a number of reasons but I really missed the vibrant artists' community in Notts. We couldn't make it in one as we had to follow the jobs However, after a couple of years in Essex we are back.
And in times of credit and crunch it's a great place to be. In the last 2 weeks I've been to shows, talks and events in Stoke, Derby Nottingham and Leicester (Sheila Ravnkilde's installation at the Richard Attenborough Centre is a must). All for free! Yesterday I was a bit late for an inspirational talk by Mel Brimfield at The New Art Exchange. This was organised by Nottingham Trent Uni who are putting on a series of seminars for artists – all freebies.
Nottingham is a buzz. Next Tuesday I'm hoping to make the debate at Tether as well as the pv of Banalarama at the Surface Gallery. Wednesday will be Broadway and Thurs…. The problem is finding time to make work mmmm.
In a previous life Jem and I set up painting holidays in France. We followed a similar process when developing HMS and I often refer to the experience when discussing the studios… which happened on Wednesday.
First lots of research … and yes there was a demand for painting holidays. We looked at the stats which referred to the huge numbers of leisure painters and their interest in painting holidays.
We looked at preferred accomodation, which region would appeal and what others had to offer. Shared bathrooms were a no no and we settled for accomodation on the edge of Riberac, a small town in the Dordogne.
We marketed the holidays in two magazines targeted at leisure painters. I set up a website with all the details and set the ball rolling 4-5 months before our first week . Jem created a menu ( my cooking would definitely put people off) and I created an itinery. Between us we were hosts, teachers, cooks, cleaners, drivers, bookkeepers, graphic designers, gardeners, waiters etc etc. Hard work but great fun! We had a waiting list by the end of our first year!
Developing a successful business in France gave us the confidence to set up the studios.
http://www.jackieberridge.co.uk/franceweb/index.html
Tmorrow night I am meeting a group who are interested in expanding and possibly setting up studios.
I was handed a form to sign yesterday relating to funding. Harrington Mill Studio Group has been set up – steered by a number of artists in the studio. A grant application is going in for marketing the next open studios. It's great that others are taking control of this – it means I can step back and let others have a say.
Now I may have gone on a bit (in my last entry in the blog) about my imput in HMS but I failed mention the enormous support I gained on the way by HMS artists. Although I never relied on help from others, the artists have really supported me at every level. Practically they have helped with partitions and provided equipment (including the handcrafted HMS unit and fridge) and of course Kat set up Standing Room, thus establishing HMS on the map. Erewash Council and Derby Uni have also put their weight behind the studios. Thanks! Phew I'm sounding like one of those Oscar speeches but I just wanted to say thanks!
